China's Xi Jinping to visit UAE, South Africa in state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses Arab leaders, diplomats and delegates attending the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

July 12 (UPI) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is to visit four countries in the Middle East and Africa, following the signing of documents related to Beijing's One Belt, One Road Initiative.

Xi's visit was made public on the Chinese foreign ministry's website on Thursday and the schedule includes stopovers in the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa.

"Upon the invitations of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, Macky Sall, president of Senegal, Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, and Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, President Xi will be traveling to the four countries, from [July] 19 to 24 on a state visit," the ministry said in its statement.

The Chinese government added Xi is to stay in Johannesburg, South Africa, from July 25 to 28 to attend the 10th annual BRICS summit.